The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20
A COLOSSAL SCHEME.
A Plan Through Which Big Syndicate Hopes
to Control New York City's Beef Trade.

New YORK, Feb. 19.-The Mail and Express
says "a big fight is at hand, and the prize is
the meat supply Of New York city Three CD
posing armies have been struggling and planning
during the past year against each other Each
possesses ammunition to the amount of over
500, 900, 000 Slight skirmishes have been fought
during the last few months followed by lull
During the week just passed. however, scheme
has been unearthed which, for boldness and en-
terprise, is unparalleled in the history Of the
cleaver. The National Consumers Meat Com
pany is its author, and has succeeded in sur
prising its foes, the Chicago dressed beef
men and the city slaughterers. This ia the
scheme: The sale OF Chicago dressed
beef and citv-slauehtered carcasses is about
even in New York. Last March the National
Consumers Meat Company obtained five retail
stores in this city. 1t shipped dressed carcasses
direct from the Montana range country, and
thus became rival of not only the city slaugh
terers aud the Chicago dressed beef men. but
also Of the retail butchers. With its forces con-
centrated and its capital multiplied it will make
a vigorous and diplomatic attack upon city
slaughterers thus: 1t proposes to win the retail
butchers to its side by purchasing every shop 10
New York for cash. making the proprietor
stakeholder in the company and retaining him
manager of the business transferred Tho
company. of course, wills4hpply all these storss
with its own meat, and owning every retail
establishment in the city. there will be no outlet
for any other stock This means the total aboli-
ton Of city slaughtering and of all shipments of
Chicago dressed beef to New York. The move
ment. it will thus be seen, is a very bold one.
The Marquis de Mores, who is the general of the
consumers forces, is very confident of success.
though reluctant at present to disclose the details
of the scheme in question. Our plan, he said,
is not to sell at Wholesale to the retail butchers.
as seems to be the general impression. We de-
sire to bring our stock direct to the consumer.
Our company is TO be merged iato another very
large cattle syndicate, and, having abundant
capital, we propose to buy up every retail butch
er store in this city, either for cash stock. If
our negotiations not successful, we will open
three four hundred independent retail shops
We desire, first. to give every retail butcher .
chance to dispose of his business. The city
slaughterers cannot compete with u.s..
"a. G. Foster, of Kansas City. the company's
Western manager who was present during the
interview, said that any possible opposition from
Chicago-dressed beef was not considered at pres
emit. interviews with leading wholesale local
butchers are given They are generally Of the
opinion that the plan will not work. They say
that it will take about $40, 600 O0O to begin WITH
to buy out all the retail stores This. however,
will not give the company the trade, as its meat
is not equal in quality to city~dressed beef, and
that opposition sb rs will spring up all around
those of the syn The managers here of
the Chicago.drtssea beef houses do not think
much of the scheme